Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Mr. Streak Buster

When Lane Kiffin was hired on January 22nd of this year, there were many difficult challenges placed before him. As a 31 year old, rookie Head Coach in the NFL, Kiffin had the daunting task of turning around a team that had just gone 2-14 the previous year. The 2006 team was one of the most futile offensive units in the history of the league scoring a measly 10.5 points per game. Going into the game this Sunday in Green Bay, the Raiders offense has nearly doubled their scoring average (19.5). When the Raiders opened the season vs. Detroit, Kiffin was burdened with many inauspicious losing streaks on the watch of Callahan, Turner, and Shell that needed to be overcome. Although the Raiders have won only 4 games so far this season, let's take a look at the significance of each victory.

Consecutive Losses: The Raiders lost the last 9 games of 2006 and the 1st 2 games of 2007 (Det, at Den). Kiffin had yet to taste victory in the NFL.

Game 3 vs. Cleveland: Raiders break 11 game losing streak. Kiffin earns 1st "W" as a Head Coach in the NFL.

Road Victory: The Raiders had lost the last 10 road games dating back to Game 10 at Washington in 2005.

Game 4 at Miami: Raiders end their string of road losses. Kiffin earns his 1st road win.

Back to Back Wins: The last time the Raiders had won back to back games was game 6 (Az) and 7 (Pitt) in 2006.

Game 4 at Miami: Raiders win 1st back to back games. Kiffin earns 1st back to back victories.

Last Divisional Win: The Raiders had lost 17 consecutive divisional games dating back to a win at Denver in Game 11 of 2004.

Game 11 at KC: Raiders end divisional drought. Kiffin earns 1st divisional win and 3rd victory of the season.

Last Back to Back Divisional Wins: The last time the Raiders had won back to back divisional games was games 15 (Den) and 16 (KC) in 2002.

Game 12 vs. Den: Raiders end divisional back to back drought. Kiffin earns 1st back to back divisional victories and 4th victory of the season doubling up last season's total victories.

With a current 2 game winning streak, you might be asking what's next for Mr. Streak Buster? Well how about 3 consecutive wins? The last time the Raiders won 3 consecutive games goes all the way back to games 11 (at Az), 12 (NYJ), and 13 (at SD) in 2002. Let's keep the current streak, a winning one, alive! Time to grate some cheese. Cheers!

RaiderCat: I like your graphic. I think you are right about the last Raider rookie QB who last played was in fact Marinovich. Just curious ... who are you an MIS Officer for? I'm a former Marine (Cpl, 1998 to 2002). Semper Fi!

Florida Raider: When the Raiders win ... I get a little extra "giddyup" to my step. As far as Kiffin's personnel decisions the jury is obviously still out. Having said that, I'm pleased with most of our FA acquisitions (Dwight, Warren, Carlisle, Newberry, Culpepper, McCown) and believe our rookies look promising (Russell, Miller, Richardson, O'Neil). We wiffed on Moses and Bowie, Higgins, and Henderson are projects. Bush is a potential diamond in the rough. It will be critical for us to use our cap space wisely in the off season and have a good 2008 draft.

how 'bout this streak, winning at lambeau field for the first time since 1978 (according to jerry macdonald). i don't know, i think we've beat them there in the '90s. i'll look into it, but it may be an interesting streak to overcome.

yep, i was right. we last won a game at lambeau field in 1990 the score being 29-16. don majkowski was the qb for the cheesers, and jay schroeder (whom i've met, and is a tremendous guy), was the starter for us.i'll be sending that to jmac.